A possible document confirming vaccination against Covid-19 (the so-called vaccination passport) is currently under discussion in the EU.
Vaccine passports could be key to reopening borders in Europe. But Norwegian government has not yet decided whether vaccinated people will receive such a document.
Important point for free movement
This is an important issue for free movement in the EU, said a spokesman for the European Commission. Such vaccine passports will allow vaccinated people to be released from quarantine when crossing borders. The Ombudsman notes that the European Commission is currently "actively discussing" with Member States about a common system for vaccination certificates. In addition, vaccine passports can open cultural, sporting or other events with a large number of participants
In Norway, it has not yet been decided
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Institute of Public Health in Norway are closely following the discussions that are taking place both in the EU and in the World Health Organization (WHO). However, it has not been confirmed whether this may be the case in Norway, which has separate regulations from the EU for people vaccinated against COVID-19.
Each country decides for itself
It has not been decided whether the presentation of the completed vaccination documentation may bring any privileges for the vaccinated person in Norway, says Secretary of State Maria Jahrmann Bjerke. She added that each country independently decides how such a passport can be used.
What do EU countries say to that?
Cyprus was the first to advocate such a document for the vaccinated in the EU. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote a letter to the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. In which he advocated a common system of certificates for those vaccinated in the EU, which would allow such people to cross borders freely.
Among other EU countries, both Denmark and Poland have announced that they will start issuing such vaccination passports. On the other hand, France is skeptical about it and rather rejects such an idea.
Norway is closely following the discussions on this topic.
Health policy spokesman Ingvild Kjerkol points out that while the vaccine is intended to protect against Covid-19, we lack knowledge. Both on the impact of the vaccine on the spread of this infection and on many other aspects related to the vaccine.